Electrical connectors



June 30, 1970 BOSWORTH ET AL 3,518,617

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 5 Filed NOV. 17, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet l I 3% .i!!! KL 24 fiillliifiyii I 34 22 INVENTORS I MELVIN B. BOSWORTH DOUGLAS EBOWMAN HARRY P SPARKES CLARENCE A. YOUNG FIG-4 Agent .Fune 3Q, 1970BOSWORTH ET AL 3,518,617

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR S Filed Nov. 17, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 T T :I: :1 W#1 l0 all INVENTORS MELVIN B BOSWORTH DOUGLAS F. BOWMAN HARRY P. SPARKESCLARENCE A.YOUNG June 30, 1970 M, B, BQSWQRTH ET AL 3,518,617

ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS 3 Sheets-Sheet I3 lNVENTORS MELVIN B. BOSWORTHDOUGLAS F. BOWMAN HARRY P SPARKES CLARENCE A. YOUNG Filed NOV. 1'7, 1967United States Patent Office 3,518,617- Patented June 30, 1970 3,518,617ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Melvin B. Bosworth, Glendale, Douglas F. Bowman,

Canoga Park, Harry P. Sparkes, Pacific Palisades, and Clarence A. Young,Burbank, Calif., assiguors to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank,Calif. Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 525,531, Feb. 7,1966. This application Nov. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 683,959

Int. Cl. H01r 13/58 U.S. Cl. 339-107 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is acontinuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 525,531 filedFeb. 7, 1966, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates to a connector and more particularly to a connector having a lowvoltage drop and which can be assembled or disassembled with predetemined engagement or disengagement forces.

Description of the prior art External electrical power is usuallysupplied to aircraft, missiles, and other vehicles while they are on theground and not operating. One such example is an external power sourcewhich is coupled to an aircraft through a cable for supplying 115 voltsAC at 400 cycles per second. Normally, a receptacle having one or moreterminal pins extends from the aircraft and a plug attached to the cableis engaged to the terminal pins. For the transmission of power throughthe cable, it is a requirement that the installation have a minimumamount of voltage drop across the plug and receptacle terminal pins. Onesuch requirement for the military is a voltage drop of not more than 40millivolts in a distance of 11% inches across the terminal pins and plugwhen passing 250 amperes current. To limit the amount of voltage dropacross the connector, the contact force can be increased between acurrent-carrying device and the terminal pins; the variation in thevoltage drop is proportional to the square root of the contact force.This increase in contact force makes it exceedingly diflicult'to force aplug on or oil a receptacle. It is also desirable and a militaryrequirement to limit this engagement and disengagement force to 75pounds, plus or minus 10 pounds. Neither of the above requirements Werefulfilled by using the structure known in the art today.

As used in this specification, the word connector is a generic termreferring to both electrical plugs and receptacles.

The term plug as used herein is an electrical device normally coupled toa current-carrying cable. It includes a female or a male connection as aterminal portion of the cable.

The term receptacle means an electrical device normally coupled to acurrent-carrying cable. It includes a male or a female connection as aterminal portion of the cable.

Connectors of the prior art are usually constructed so that the voltagedrop is in part dependent upon the square root of the force appliedbetween connecting portions of a plug and a receptacle. Thus, theapproach in prior art connectors has been to increase the force betweenthe plug and the receptacle in order to reduce the voltage drop acrossthem. This has been found to be unacceptable in those cases where a verylow voltage drop is required since a very high force is required toengage or disengage the plug and the receptacle.

The connectors of the known prior art have generally been constructedwith contact pins coupled to power cables, the components having beenencased in a one piece, molded rubber housing. The cost of the powercables and the connectors is quite high and this particular arrangementof the known connectors has not permitted or provided for an easydisassembly of the unit in order to replace worn parts. Thenon-repairable aspect of such electrical connectors made themunattractive since connector maintenance was impossible, replacementhaving been the only alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, aconnector has been developed which eliminates many of the undesirablefeatures and disadvantages of the known prior art. A minimum-voltagedrop across the connector, in addition to the incorporation of means toaccommodate an acceptable engaging or disengaging force, is obtainableby using the present invention. Briefly, the connector uses acurrent-conductive element and a friction ring to link a plug to areceptacle and thereby conduct current, a minimum of force beingrequired to engage or disengage the plug and receptacle. The plug andreceptacle, in accordance with the present invention, has a housingwhich is formed with a number of separable parts, permitting thecomponents to be replaced with a minimum amount of disassembly. Yet, ahousing assembly for the connector is provided which is inherentlyresistant to accidental disassembly during use.

Briefly, the present invention is directed to a connector that includesa current-carrying cable having a contact pin thereon. A means forconducting current engages both the contact pin and a terminal pin. Afriction ring grips the terminal pin for preventing disengagement. Allthe components are supported and encased by a nonconductive housing.

The invention extends to a repairable connector for supporting acurrent-carrying cable and includes joint and separable inner housingsencircling and supportmg the cable. A casing encircles and grips theinner housings to prevent their separation and inadvertent removal ofthe cable. a

More specifically, the connector according to the invention includes ahousing for supporting a current-conducting cable. A contact pin iscoupled to the cable for conducting current from the connector to aterminal pin which is mounted upon a device for receiving current. Theconnector includes a plurality of inner housings, each having a seriesof semicircular grooves extending along the current-conducting cable orreplacement of contact pins attached to the cable.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent considering the attached drawings and following description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cableincluded in an assembly with a plug and receptacle constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1A is an exploded view of a housing for a plug constructedaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 4 andshowing a plug constructed according to the present invention, FIG. 2being rotated 180 with respect to FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a view looking in the direction of line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of a contact pin andcurrent conducting device constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of a friction ring assembly used in thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of the frictionring shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a receptacle constructed in accordancewith the present invention and coupled to a current-carrying cable;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of inner housings and a casing used in theplug shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, a cableassembly 5 constructed according to the invention includes a plug 10coupled to a receptacle 110 through a series of cables 12, 14, 16, 17,and 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 14, the plug 10 is used to conduct current to areceptacle 21 (shown in phantom in FIG. 2) from three power cables 12,14, and 16 and a control cable 18. The receptacle 21 is connected to aconventional aircraft (not shown). An internal ground cable 17 iscoupled through structure later described to a terminal pin 17A (FIG. 3)on the receptacle 21. Similarly, the power cables 12, 14, and 16 arerespectively linked to individual terminal pins 12A, 14A, and 16A andthe control cable 18 is coupled to the terminal pins 18A and 18B of thereceptacle 21.

The plug 10 of the present invention serves to conduct current to thereceptacle 21. It serves also to prevent accidental removal of the plugfrom the receptacle by means hereinafter described once it is placed ina current transfer position. The plug 10 is constructed so that it maybe disassembled and the interior repaired or re placed.

The plug :10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 uses three power cables, oneinternal ground cable, and two control cables. This specific plug isintended for application to a conventional ground support cart (notshown) used for a conventional aircraft (not shown). While thisparticular cable arrangement is particularly adapted to aircraft-typeinstallations, the invention is not limited to the number or the type ofcables used in conjunction with the plug nor in the particularconfiguration of the plug. For example, the plug while illustrated in ageneral rectangular configuration may be of circular or other convenientcrosssection. The described invention can also be used in many andvarying types of installation. The number or the variety of cables usedwith the present invention is not limited to the examples as illustratedand the connector 4 illustrated is given by way of example rather thanby way of limitation.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1A and 2, the plug 10 includes ahousing 20 formed from a flexible, tubular, outer casing 22 having arectangular cross-section and enveloping a cable seal 24, and threeinner housings 26, 28, and 30. All parts of the housing 20 are formedfrom a flexible material such as an elastomer or flexible plasticmaterial and in all cases must be a dielectric which would tend toinsulate and protect an exposed current-conducting device from theweather. The housing 20 is constructed to grip each of the cables 12,14, 16, and 17 and the control cable 18 and so as to hold them rigidlyin position when the plug 10' is forced upon the receptacle 21. In thealternative, the housing 20 is constructed to facilitate its disassemblyin a manner best illustrated in FIG. 1A, thereby permitting ease ofrepair.

The cable seal 24 is formed with five openings 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 asbest shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The power cables 12, 14, 16 and the groundcable 17 each have an outer sheath of resilient abrasion resistantmaterial 42-45, respectively, which are normally semiconducti ve innature. Inner sheaths 4211-4511 of resilient electrical insulatingmaterial act to electrically isolate the cables 12, 14, 16 and 17 fromtheir respective outer sheaths. Control cable 18 has an outer sheath 46made in a manner similar to the other cables, except that two insulatedwires are contained in one inner sheath 46a. The sheath covers therespective cables and terminates in flush relation to an interiorsurface 48 of the cable seal 24, which extends inwardly within the outercasing 22. Each of the openings 32, 34 and 40 has a pair ofinwardlyextending annular ribs 32A and 32B, 34A and 34B, and 40A and40B, respectively. These ribs tend to deform the insulation on each ofthe cables 16, 17, and 18 and thereby act as a compression seal. Thecable seal 24 has a similar type of inwardly-directed ribs in theopenings 36 and 38 which accept power cables 12 and 14 and, while notillustrated, grip them in a similar manner.

As best shown in FIG. 1A, the inner housing 28 is centrally locatedbetween the two mating inner housings 26 and 30 to form, when joined inabutting relation, a composite housing having an overall configurationadapted for acceptance within the sleeve 22. The inner housing 26 has aseries of semicircular grooves 32C, 34C, and 400 which are contiguouswith a series of semiconcular grooves 32D, 34D, and 40D formed on anabutting surface of the inner housing 28. It is noted that the numericalsufiix of each of the semicircular grooves designates that like prefixesare disposed adjacent to other grooves with other like sufiices. Theinner housing 28 also has a side wall 52 having a pair of semicirculargrooves 36C and 38C extending along a portion of the wall. The innerhousing 30 has, on a side wall 54 which mates with the side wall 52 ofthe inner housing 28, a pair of semicircular grooves 36D and 38D thereinbeing respectively contiguous with the semicircular grooves 36C and 38Cin the inner. housing 28. The grooves and all of the inner housings 26,28, and 30 are curvilinear in shape for purposes of arranging the cableswhich are disposed,

within the grooves in an expeditious manner and help prevent unduebending of the cables when assembled within the connector.

The inner housing 28 includes an additional groove 34D which extendsfrom a side wall 50 through the housing body and the second side wall52. This type of construction permits the cable which extends withinthis modate the particular number of cables contained within only thisplug.

As best shown in FIGS. 1A and 3, the inner housing 28 has a portion atone of its ends shaped as a hammer head, as indicated by the numeral 56.It has a cross-section which is otherwise approximately the same as thatof the cable seal 24 and is shaped to completely fill and engage theinterior of the tubular casing 22. This hammer head feature of theinvention substantially prevents moisture leakage between the innerhousings and the tubular sleeve. The hammer head portion 56 has a seriesof openings 32E, 34E, 36E, 38E, 40E, and 40F, respectively accepting theterminals 16A, 17A, 12A, 14A, 18A, and 18B.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 7, the power cable 16 has a portionof the electrical insulating sheath 58 stripped back to expose a sectionof wire strands 60. A contact pin 62 is provided with a skirt 64 and acavity 66 which accepts the wire strand 60 and serves to attach thecontact pin to the power cable 16. The pin 62 is crimped, soldered, andotherwise fixedly attached to the wire strand 60. The opposite end ofthe pin 62 terminates within a cavity 68 which is an extension of thegroove 32D. The pin 62 (as a typical example) includes a post 70integrally formed on the skirt 64 and terminating in a flange 72 with aspherical head 74 projecting centrally from the flange. The pin 62 isheld in place by the post 70 mating with a necked down portion of thegroove 32D, the spherical head 74 being retained in alignment with theopening 32B, and the terminal pin 16A when the connector is mounted onthe receptacle 21. The post 70 includes an annular seal 61 disposedabout its circumference. This seal bears against the groove surface inthe housings 26, 28 and 30, as the case may be. These seals 61 isolatethe interior of the plug from outside moisture and dirt which mayaccumulate on the heads of the pins.

The means for conducting electrical current from the contact pin 62 tothe terminal pin 16A takes the form of a sleeve assembly 76. The sleeveassembly 76 is formed from four split sleeve members 76A, 76B, 76C, and76D which define an expandable tubular sleeve adapted to engage thespherical head 74 of the contact pin 62 and the terminal pin 16A forconducting current from one pin to the other with the least voltagedrop. The number of split sleeve members can be varied dependent uponthe amount of current carried by the contact pin and its physical size.The sleeve assembly 76 is held in place by a pair of annular-shaped coilsprings 73 and 75 which encircle the split sleeve members. Each sleevemember has an internal longitudinally curved surface 77 which permitsthe terminal pin 16A to be misaligned either during or after insertionwhile maintaining, nevertheless, contact with the sleeve assembly 76.The flexibility of the sleeve assembly 76 achieves this result withoutthe loss of continuity. The split-sleeve assembly is disclosed in detailin the patent to Cole 3,064,226 issued on Nov. 13, 1962.

For purposes of retaining the plug 10 upon the receptacle 21, a frictionring assembly 78 (FIGS. 5, 6, and 7) is pressed upon the terminal pin16A and retained thereon by friction to permit the entire plug to besuspended from the receptacle. The friction ring assembly 78 issupported by the inner housing 28 and includes an annular friction ring79 of U-shaped cross-section, an annular retainer 83 encompassing theopen portion of the U-shape, and a resilient annular member 84 disposedwithin an annular groove defined in the external periphery of thefriction ring and interiorly of the retainer ring. A slot 80 cut throughthe cross-section of the ring 79 permits the ring assembly to expandfrom a normal position to a flexed position. The normal position of thering assembly exists when the assembly is disengaged from the terminalpin and the flexed position of the ring assembly is obtained when theterminal pin is forced through the ring 79. This ring has a firstinnermost cylindrical surface 81 which mates with the terminal pin 16Aand has a relief portion 82 which prevents the mate rial adjacent theslot from digging into or gripping the terminal pin with a pointcontact. It also assists in permitting the cylindrical surface 81 toengage the pin with a calibrated force, adjusted by width of the reliefportion 82. The annular retainer 83 extends around the annular ring 79for the purpose of limiting the movement of the ring past its flexedposition. The resilient annular member 84 is formed from a conventionalsilastic compound and is preferably secured to both the ring 79 and theretainer 83 for purposes of coupling these two components together. Bychanging the size of the cylindrical surface 81 on the friction ring 79,and by increasing or decreasing the thickness of the flanges on theU-shaped cross section, the particular force required to force thefriction ring assembly upon the terminal pin can be varied in aproportional amount.

The friction ring assembly 78 is insulated from the sleeve assembly 76by an annular insulated ring 86 which is disposed between the ring andthe assembly. The sleeve assembly 76 can be formed from a low resistancematerial such as silver plated copper while the friction ring 78 can beformed from a high resistance material such as stainless steel whichwill resist flexing of the ring through repeated use of the connector.

While not illustrated, the remaining cables 12, 14, and 17 each have acontact pin, sleeve assembly, friction ring and insulating ringsubstantially identical to the just described construction described andillustrated with respect to FIGS. 2 and 5.

The control cable 18, as shown in FIG. 2, is divided into two partswithin the plug 10 by removal of a portion of the abrasion sheath 46, toexpose a pair of separate insulated cables 90 and 92. A set of contactpins 94 and 96 are respectively mounted upon the cables 90 and 92 inmuch the same manner as the contact pin 62 is mounted on the power cable16. Current conducting means in the form of sleeve assemblies 98 and 100are used to couple the contact pins 94 and 96 to the terminal pins 18Aand 18B, which extend from the receptacle 21.

For purposes of retaining the inner housings 26, 28, and 30 and thecable seal 24 within the casing 22, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair offlanges 102 and 104 are extended radially inwardly from either end ofthe casing 22. The flange .102 is substantially rectangular incross-section and mates with a corresponding step 103 formed around theperiphery of the cable seal 24. To remove the cable seal 24 from thecasing 22, the flange 102 must be deformed during either assembly ordisassembly. In a like manner, the flange 104 mates With a similarshaped step 105 on the periphery of the hammerhead portion 56 of theinner housing 28. The flange 104 is formed with a slight undercut toprevent the expansion of the inner housing 28 past an open end of thesleeve 22, the flange 104 thereby serving as a stop. The inner housing28 and the mating inner housings 26 and 30 are normally inserted throughthe end of the sleeve adjacent to the flange 102.

To keep the plug 10 in an assembled condition, an adhesive (not shown),such as a conventional thermoplastic resin, is applied around theflanges 102 and 104, bonding the respective flanges to the cable seal 24and to the inner housing 28, The plug 10 is repairable. Thus, it iscontemplated that the cable seal 24 and the inner housings 26, 28, and30 are all removable from the sleeve 22 for disassembly of the cablesand replacement or repair of any of the components. In repairing theplug 10, it is necessary to break any adhesive bond at the flanges .102and 104 to permit removal of the cable seal 24 and the inner housings26, 28, and 30. Typically, the plug is first heated by a conventionalheat source (not shown) to soften the adhesive. Thereafter the plug canbe disassembled, repaired, and reassembled. This repairability is animportant feature of the present invention in that the connector isneither complex nor inherently expensive to fabricate. Heretofore theconnectors of the prior art were not constructed in a manner in whichthey were easily disassembled without destroying one or more parts of ahousing which encases the connector. Accordingly, it is readily apparentthat construction according to the present invention has advantageswhich are not present in the known prior art.

In using the present invention, the assembled plug 10 is disposed inproximity to the receptacle 21 such that the openings 32E, 34E, 36E,40E, and 40F are respectively aligned wit-h the terminals 16A, 17A, 12A,14A, 18A, and 18B. The plug as a whole is forced against the receptacle21 until the respective terminals enter the Openings and the terminalpins engage the respective friction rings. The plug 10 is aligned withthe receptacle and, as a typical example, the terminal 16A enters theplug .10 through the opening 32E. It is forced past the friction ring 79until the ring flexes sufficient to permit the pin 16A to passtherethrough and enter the interior of the sleeve assembly 76. Force ofthe plug against the receptacle is continued until the inner housing 28prevents further movement. In this position, the friction ring 79resists removal of the plug 10 from the receptacle 21 either byvibration or by forces accidentally applied to the plug, unless suchforces are sufliciently great to overcome the holding capability of thefriction ring 79.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the receptacle 110 is coupled toall of the cables 12, 14, 16, 17, and 18. The receptacle includes threeseparate inner housings 1.12, 114, 116, and a cable seal 118, all beingcontained by a rectangular, tubular casing 120. The cable 17 has acontact pin 122 mounted on an extremity, the contact pin being supportedby the housings 112 and 114 and extending into a cavity 123 formed at anend of the casing 120 and inner housing 114. Each of the power cables12, 14, and 16 has a similar contact pin 122 coupled thereto. Thecontrol cable 18 is split into two individual cables 90 and 92, eachhaving a contact pin 124 coupled at an extremity.

The configuration of the cable seal .118 and the inner housings 112,114, and 116 are basically the same as the comparable components foundin the plug illustrated in FIGS. 1A-4. Due to similar shape andfunction, identification of the specific openings and cavities is notdeemed necessary.

Cavity opening 123 formed on the interior of the casing 120 and definedby the inner housing 114 is large enough to accept a second plug 130 tofacilitate engagement of the contact pins .122 and 124. The nature ofthe contact action is similar to the action between the plug andreceptacle and 21, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and serves the samefunction.

An inwardly extending lip 132 is formed at one end of the casing 120 andextends so as to contact the second plug 130 and retain and seal it inposition when it is engaged upon the receptacle 110.

While a particular configuration of the plug and receptacle, along withpower cables and control cables, is illustrated in FIGS. 1-10, it is tobe understood that the number of cables in the particular configurationof the plug and receptacle may be varied in accordance with theparticular function and desired results to be obtained.

What is claimed is:

1. Aconnector for engaging a terminal pin comprising:

a cable adapted to carry current;

a contact pin connected to said cable;

means for conducting current between said contact pin and the terminalpin;

a friction ring adapted to grip the terminal pin and resist removal ofthe terminal pin from said current conducting means;

an insulated bushing disposed between said friction ring and saidcurrent conducting means; and

a housing supporting said current conducting means,

said insulated bushing and said friction ring.

2. A connector for engaging a terminal pin as defined in claim 1 inwhich:

the housing is split through a portion that exposes the friction ring,the current-conducting means, and the cable in a manner to expose theseparts for purposes of removal and repair.

3. A connector for engaging a terminal pin as defined in claim 1 inwhich:

the housing is formed from an insulating material which encapsulates thefriction ring, the current carrying means and the cable.

4. A connector for engaging a terminal pin as defined in claim 1 inwhich:

the friction ring is annular and is formed with a pair of parallelannular spaced apart flanges extending radially from the ring and beingsplit to permit flexing of the ring.

5. A connector for engaging a terminal pin as defined in claim 1wherein:

the current conducting means includes a plurality of metallic sleevesbeing retained on the terminal pin and the contact pin by a springmeans; and

the metallic sleeves having a longitudinal interior curved surface whichengages the terminal pin which provides point contact between thecurrent-conducting means and the terminal pin when the connector ismisaligned with the terminal pin.

6. A connector for engaging a terminal pin comprising:

a cable having a layer of insulation and including a current-carryingwire;

a contact pin engaging the current-carrying wire in the cable andincluding a spherical head arranged with the terminal pin;

a current-conductive sleeve including a plurality of separable metallicsleeves extending across and engaging the spherical head of the contactpin and the terminal pin with the sleeves being forced against the pinsby a pair of coil springs encircling the sleeves to permit movement ofthe pins out of alignment with each other without losing continuity;

an annular friction ring gripping the terminal pin and spaced from thecurrent conductive sleeve and being split to permit flexing of the ringas it is moved on and off the terminal pin,

the friction ring including a pair of spaced-apart annular flangesextending radially from the ring and adding stiffness to the ring;

a nonconductive ring encircling the terminal pin and disposed betweenthe friction ring and the current conductive sleeve; and

a housing encasing the contact pin, the conductive sleeve and thefiction ring and gripping the insulation of the cable such that theconnector moves as a unit when it is forced upon or pulled off theterminal PHI.

7. A friction ring assembly for an electrical connector comprising:

an annulus having a U-shaped cross section and being split to permit theannulus to flex;

a retainer disposed about and in uniform spaced relationship to theperiphery of said annulus for limiting the expansive fiexure of saidannulus; and

a resilient annular member disposed within said U- shaped cross sectionbetween said retainer and said annulus and adapted to hold said retainerin uniform spaced relationship to said annulus.

8. A friction ring assembly for an electrical connector as defined inclaim 7, the ring assembly gripping an electrical pin in which:

the annular ring has a slot through the cross section to permit the ringto flex from a normal position to a flexed position, and

the ring has in innermost cylindrical surface and a relief portion iscut from the cylindrical surface in the vicinity of the slot to maintaincontact of the connector pin around the entire cylindrical surface ofthe ring.

9. A device for electrically connecting a cable assembly having aplurality of cables and a plurality of terminal pins, said devicecomprising:

a plurality of dielectric inner housings wherein a central housingportion and portions mated in abutting relation therewith havecomplementary semicircular grooves therein for engaging said cables, aplurality of said grooves having a nonlinear longitudinal axis wherebysaid cables can be positioned without imposing stresses thereon;

means disposed within the complementary grooves of said inner housingfor electrically connecting said cables and said terminal pins, saidconnecting means adapted to removably receive said cables and saidterminal pins in spaced relationship and accommodate misalignment ofsaid terminal pins without interfering with electrical continuity; and

a dielectric casing surrounding and encasing said inner housings, saidcasing adapted to hold said inner housings in complementary relationshipand allow the removal thereof without destruction.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9 wherein one of said innerhousings has a laterally extending end overlapping the other innerhousings, said laterally extending end having openings therein incomplementary relationship to said grooves thereby providing an integralsurface through which said terminal pins enter said grooves.

11. A device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said connecting meanscomprises:

a plurality of current conducting sleeve members disposed about saidcable and said terminal pin;

said sleeve members defining a tubular assembly having an internaldiameter less than said cable and said terminal pin when said cable andsaid terminal pin are removed therefrom; and

10 means adapted to resiliently retain said sleeve members in pointcontact with said cable and said terminal pin. 12. A device inaccordance with claim 9 further comprising:

a nonconductive ring disposed adjacent the terminal pin receiving end ofsaid connecting means, the opening in said ring and said connectingmeans being complementary.

13. A device in accordance with claim 12 further comprising:

a friction ring disposed adjacent the free side of said nonconductivering, said friction ring being split to permit expansion and contractionabout said terminal pin when said pin is passed through said frictionring into said connecting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 0 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, PrimaryExaminer P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

